Latest News
Method for breakdown and removal of siloxanes from fluids garners patent
Siloxanes — synthetic chains of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms — are widely used in personal care products, soaps, pharmaceutical formulations and other products, but are notoriously difficult to manage in production- and waste-fluid streams. Current approaches, including flaring and…
Powerful palladium “plugs” make this hydrogen-separating membrane more durable
Palladium is widely used in membrane applications because of its extreme selectivity for hydrogen. However, conventional palladium membranes can be damaged at the high temperatures required for many processes that generate hydrogen for various subsequent uses, including the manufacture of…
Taking stock; looking ahead
Year’s end is, of course, the default juncture at which current situations are assessed and forecasts for the future are posited. As this year nears its end, indications are that 2026 will likely be a tough year for much of…
Electrostatic PFAS capture produces nearly zero waste
Increased concern around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water is necessitating more robust mitigation techniques. There are many technologies that can effectively capture or destroy PFAS, but challenges remain surrounding large volumes of PFAS-laden solid waste and fluorinated byproducts.…
The Effects of Particle Size on Bulk-Solids Flow Properties
Understanding how particle size affects flow properties helps ensure reliable flow of materials between process steps Many industries utilize dry solid materials and powders (collectively referred to as bulk solids in this article) for producing and manufacturing products. It is…
Strategic Cost Engineering for Chemical Manufacturers
When paired with deep process expertise, cost estimation becomes a powerful tool for mitigating risk and guiding investment for large capital projects Chemical manufacturing is one of the most complex and capital-intensive industries in the world. From specialty chemicals to…
Modern SIS: Balancing Safety with Process Availability
Advanced safety-instrumented system features minimize complexity, downtime and costs Chemical process plants must be vigilant when it comes to preventing accidents that have the potential to harm people, assets and the environment. While safety instrumented systems (SIS) reduce risks, they…
Niobium-based anodes create high-speed lithium ‘highways’
By replacing traditional silicon or graphite anode materials with specially crystallized niobium, manufacturers can overcome some of the safety and power limitations of traditional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Echion Technologies Ltd. (Cambridge, U.K.; www.echiontech.com) has developed a proprietary mixed niobium-oxide active…
Enabling Clean Ammonia: Practical Lessons from a Full Plant Conversion
Low-carbon ammonia is an attractive driver for decarbonization of many product chains. Here are some practical insights from a legacy plant that was updated for cleaner ammonia production Ammonia production is under growing scrutiny as decarbonization becomes a global imperative.…
Measurement and modeling point the way toward optimization of mechanochemical recycling
The widely used plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can be depolymerized by reacting it with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) under strong mechanical impact from metal spheres in a ball mill. This type of mechanochemical route to recycling could alleviate some of the…